Dropping a Dime (Modern day Crime Busting)

How are you going to drop a dime on some scum bag when there aren't any more public pay phones. Used to be you could rat somebody out to the police with a quick anonymous and therefore completely safe phone call from a pay phone. They used to be conveniently located at gas stations, airports, hospitals and at lonely truck stops on the highway. Now you can’t even find a pay phone anywhere you look.  Don’t bother to make that call on your cell phone, it’s probably traceable in about nineteen different ways and somebody will always know it was you. Okay, you can buy a Prepaid Phone with a phone number that’s not registered in your real name; that could work -hurry while supplies last. They are very popular with some people.  One big drawback with a prepaid phone is that you’ll have to destroy it like they do in the movies, after just one call to the cops. Can you afford to do that?  

I wonder how many crimes are going unreported now that we can no longer drop a dime on a crook anonymously and safely. Well if you’re desperate enough and have transportation you can search your city, you might get lucky. I found the one pictured in the photo at a lonely truck stop outside of Houston. Too bad it doesn't have a handset attached.

Don't just man up, God Up!

Okay I've heard the expression going around to, “Man up!” It’s similar to cowboy up, buck up, straighten up and the ever popular get yourself together man. The last time I heard the expression was on TV last week when a disgraced politician used it while apologizing for his wrongdoings.  But this post is not about public figures it’s about you and I. I suppose the expression to man up does mean to own up to one’s mistakes or to take some responsibility, but I suspect what it really means is; I’m sorry I got caught man, my bad. But to God up means more than just making a mere apology.  It means going to God and asking him to help you identify the exact nature of your wrongs. Then maybe you can admit to yourself and to others that you are a corrupt individual.  You tell God sorrowfully and brokenly that you want to change and really mean it; He knows it when you really don’t. Then going further you take some active steps to make amends to those you have harmed. For instance, by returning what was taken and by fixing what you broke to the best of your ability. Now do you see the difference between a man up and a God up? The latter is a spiritual act not just a human one and it calls for true repentance. It takes wisdom and courage to God up but it only takes false humility to man up.

Always Expect a Train! (when you engage in risky behavior)

There is a saying used by a railroad that says, “Always expect a train!” Trains don’t come after us or go looking for us to flatten us; usually we just get in their way. When we are on the tracks the train will do what a train does and barrel right over and through you and kill you. There are circumstances in life that are like that.  When we get into some risky behaviors, get addicted to drugs, alcohol, money, sex you name it; we are putting ourselves right onto the train tracks of life.  I won’t say something may happen to you when you least expect it. Instead I'll say the expected will happen because you should always expect a train!  If you haven't been hit by a train yet, you will be. Just as long as you are doing the wrong things and are playing in the wrong places.

Reconciling Love in Marriage

You hurt your spouse deeply by (________________) fill in the blank or you hurt each other. Is this the end of the marriage or is there hope? Yes, there is hope because God can fix it if you are humble enough and honest enough. The first step is to stop the behavior. The next step is to face reality and honestly admit to yourself and to God your part in whatever hurting thing that took place. After this breakthrough you will need to have strong faith because now you must forgive your spouse's part in whatever happened between you.  

You must say the words, "I forgive you!" Then begin treating him or her as if they had never sinned against you. I’m not talking about being in denial nor about simply forgetting what happened. I’m talking about what I call active forgiveness. The making of a firm decision to treat your spouse as innocent of wrongdoing, the granting of a full pardon to your spouse. Keep repeating this active form of forgiveness every day until the hurt you feel is gone from your hearts. This could take awhile, but don’t quit  just minutes before this miracle happens for you.

Part of the healing process you’ll experience is the softening of your hearts which allows the stirrings of love to begin again or should I say to begin anew. This will be a beautiful and a divine thing. Then you will experience and understand what God meant in  
1 Peter 4:8  where he says, “Love covers over a multitude of sins." 

Finally, learn to love God’s way as in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. In this passage God gives us an amazing blueprint for how to love your spouse. Own this passage of the bible. Substitute your name in all of the place where the words, 'love' and 'it' appear then imitate those actions. 

It is my hope and my prayer that God will bless your marriage with the incredible reconciliation that he has blessed mine with. God then went a step further with us to more than just restore our relationship. God gave us an even better relationship and a greater love than we had ever experienced or had before and for this we will forever be grateful.